In praise of linguistic innovation and correct plurals

[Stephanie Briggs]

"I have never heard of run-batted-ins in baseball, always the correct
RUNS-batted-in. Granted, it's a three-word expression and doesn't
exactly flow smoothly. Which may explain why the preferred locution is
ribbies, a sounding out of RBIs, where the plural S does appear,
conveniently, at the end of the acronym."

This sounds like a case of a split infinitive.

*****************************
~Stephanie D. (Sures) Briggs
http://sdsures.blogspot.com/

Come have a look at my handmade knitted afghans and scarves!
THIRD SALE: 06/08/10!
http://warmochfuzzy.etsy.com/




On 8 October 2010 17:22, John Dunn <j.dunn at slavonic.arts.gla.ac.uk> wrote:

> Thanks for leaping in.  In British English, where the plural is rare (there
> is only one), only attorney generals is possible (he was one of the worst
> attorney generals in history).  And Google suggests that brother-in-laws is
> at least possible.  It occurs to me that what helps to make these plural
> forms seem artificial is that the genitive ending can appear only at the
> end:
> That's a fine mother-in-law's tongue you've got growing in that pot.
> The procurator fiscal's case seemed remarkably weak.
>
> Genitive plural forms must be extremely rare, but I suppose the same rule
> would apply:
> My brother-in-laws' jobs prevent them from attending the wedding.
>
> John Dunn.
> ________________________________________
> From: SEELANGS: Slavic & East European Languages and Literatures list [
> SEELANGS at bama.ua.edu] On Behalf Of Francoise Rosset [frosset at WHEATONMA.EDU
> ]
> Sent: 08 October 2010 15:55
> To: SEELANGS at bama.ua.edu
> Subject: Re: [SEELANGS] In praise of linguistic innovation and correct
> plurals
>
>
> Take heart, there are some surviving fossils:
>
> I have never heard of run-batted-ins in baseball, always the correct
> RUNS-batted-in. Granted, it's a three-word expression and doesn't
> exactly flow smoothly. Which may explain why the preferred locution is
> ribbies, a sounding out of RBIs, where the plural S does appear,
> conveniently, at the end of the acronym.
>
> There's also Attorneys General, which was also used correctly at least
> a few times in US newscasts, regarding the recent flurry of activity
> by state AGs who are suing the Federal government over "Obama-care,"
>  ostensibly on behalf of their states. However, references to AGs are
> usually to the local one and hence singular.
>
> Finally, I think, while we say "in-laws," we can safely expect the
> survival of mothers-in-law, sons-in-law, etc. (or am I wrong here?)
>
> It's been a really useful and informative discussion!
> Lots for the students to mull over,
> -FR
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>  Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
>  options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
>                    http://seelangs.home.comcast.net/
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
  options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
                    http://seelangs.home.comcast.net/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------